Woman Dies Following an Overdose of Labor Inducing Drug

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Suzanne Ballantyne, a lawyer, aged 47-years
died after she was given a dose of a labor inducing drug- misoprostol 16 times
the level stated in national guidelines. She was being treated at St. George's
Hospital in London, after her unborn child died in the womb 39 weeks into her
pregnancy. In an attempt to induce labor and retrieve the fetus she was given
800mcg of misoprostol. Suzanne suffered multiple ruptures to her uterus, with
amniotic fluid from her womb leaking into her heart and lungs and causing her
vital organs to fail.

Woman Dies Following an Overdose of Labor Inducing Drug

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As per the guidelines issued by the Royal
College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists the recommended dose of misoprostol
should not exceed 50mcg as the drug is known to put patients at an increased
risk of tears to the uterus.

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The Trust
said the dose was in line with 'Nice'
guidance but has now
published a new protocol based on the Royal College guidelines.

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